Sicilian port to expand tourist activities

The Sicilian port of Pozzallo is set to develop a widely awaited sea passenger terminal together with the upgrading of its existing port facilities.
The news was welcomed by Malta-based Virtu’ Ferries Ltd which is now looking into the possibility of investing in the proposed passenger terminal, that is expected to service further routes in the Mediterranean.
Meanwhile, Virtu’ Ferries will by next year operate a brand new €60 million state-of-the-art catamaran, the ‘Jean de La Valette’.
The tiny fishing port of Pozzallo, situated in the Southern tip of Sicily has been a long-time first port of call for Virtu’ Ferries, on its scheduled route to Sicily that also includes Catania.
A meeting held last week between the Sicilian province government and the mayorships of Ragusa ended in agreement on the development of the terminal, that will now be subject to public tender and expressions of interest.
“We will definitely look into the prospects of investing in the project,” Henri Saliba, Virtu’ Ferries General Manager told Business Today.
The project is expected to cover an area of 4,400 square metres that will include a car park, a commercial centre, a passenger terminal, security services and offices.
Work on the new catamaran ‘Jean de La Valette’ is reportedly progressing according to schedule in its dock at Austal Ships in Western Australia.
A Facebook page set up by Virtu’ Ferries for all to follow the progress on the modern catamaran has attracted hundreds of enthusiasts who receive updates with photographs from Australia.
The page - that can be obtained with a simple Facebook search ‘Jean de La Valette’ – accepts questions from the public, and gives replies on mechanical data.
More than 500 people have so far registered as members and are regular users of the page.
“We are really happy with the response we have received from the public with this Facebook page,” Saliba said, adding that the company feels proud to have initiated such an interactive way of keeping the general public informed on the construction of the vessel.
The ‘Jean de La Vallette’ is expected to be completed and operational by August of next year.

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Catacombe di San Giovanni, Siracusa

The Catacombs of St. John in Siracusa contain some 20,000 Early Christian tombs - honeycombed tunnels of empty coffins that were long ago looted of their "burial riches" by plundering grave robbers. They are entered through the evocative ruins of a Norman church.

History

In Roman times, Christians were not allowed to bury their dead within the city limits, so they went outside the boundaries of Syracuse to create burial chambers in what had been used by the Greeks as underground aqueducts. The early Christians recycled these into chapels.

Syracuse has other subterranean burial grounds, but the Catacombs of St. John are the only ones open to the public. You enter the "world of the dead" from the Chiesa di San Giovanni, now a ruin. St. Paul is said to have preached on this spot, so the early Christians venerated it as holy ground.

The church's roots go back to the 6th century, when a basilica stood here, but it was eventually destroyed by the Saracens. The Normans reconstructed it in the 12th century and it served as the cathedral of Syracuse, but in 1693 an earthquake destroyed it. A baroque church was then built, but was abandoned in the 17th century and left in ruins by the earthquake of 1908.

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“To have seen Italy without Sicily - is not to have seen Italy at all,
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New From Perillo Tours: Deluxe Escorted 9-Day Sicily Tour

With its rustic beauty and Old World charm, Sicily is a rare jewel, and Perillo Tours has a brand new nine-day escorted tour to this Mediterranean gem. The value-packed journey will unfold 25 centuries of treasures left by the Greeks, the Romans, the Arabs, the Normans, the Bourbons and other invaders. Two of the most enlightened capitals of the West, Greek Siracusa and Arab-Norman Palermo will be featured, as well as medieval Taormina with its stunning beaches back-dropped by Mount Etna’s smoking volcano.

A top Mediterranean power 2,700 years ago, Siracusa is a World Heritage Site with a Greek theater, several temples, Roman amphitheater and the tomb of the Greek mathematician Archimedes. Nearly every great European empire once ruled Palermo, and left their traces in its palaces, churches and crypts.

Deluxe hotels on the tour include three nights in Palermo at the Grand Hotel Waqner and two nights in Taormina at the Grand Timeo. A hearty buffet breakfast gets every day off right, and evenings are filled with sumptuous, wine-fueled meals. Accompanied by Perillo’s engaging and knowledgeable tour directors throughout, guests will enjoy day trips to Sicily’s fascinating sites

Highlights include a bouquet-filled visit to Marsala and one of its wine cellars, where guests will taste the fortified wine that was first introduced in 1796. Also on the itinerary is the ancient Greek city of Selinus, an acropolis of majestic temples overlooking the sea. On the road to Taormina, the tour will stop at the aristocratic fourth century Villa Romana del Casales in Piazza Armerina, famed for its intricate mosaics. A morning trip from Taormina will reveal another World Heritage Site, Noto, built entirely in the Baroque period.

Each departure is limited to 40 guests traveling in deluxe motor coaches with extra legroom. Tour price covers airport transfers in Italy, hearty daily buffet breakfast, five dinners and one lunch including wine and beer, Marsala wine tasting, baggage handling, hotel service charges and taxes, professional tour directors and local guides. In addition to sightseeing, plenty of free time is available for independent explorations, shopping and relaxing. The Deluxe Sicily Tour is offered at $2,690 per person double occupancy for three departures in January, with the top price of $3,290 offered on the two April departures.

For more information and to book this or any other Perillo Tours package, see a travel agent, or visit www.PerilloTours.com or call toll free at 1-800-431-1515

To learn more about Sicily visit Sicily Tourist Guide

To get updates about the Best of Sicily follow us at www.twitter.com/SicilyToday

The taste of Sicily is only a click away - Get the best Sicilian gourmet food delivered directly to your doorstep from www.Sicilian-Marketplace.com - The TOP 100 most sold Sicilian food products online. Our Sicily marketplace is powered by the worlds biggest online shopping site - best customer satisfaction guaranteed!

Interested in the best Italian sparkling wine? - taste like Champagne, but for a fraction of the price! Pinot Prosecco

Why not try some world class fishing and see Sicily from the sea, book a spectacular Sicilian fishing trip with SicilyFishing.com

“To have seen Italy without Sicily - is not to have seen Italy at all,
as Sicily is the key to everything” - Goethe

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Successful edition of the Air Malta Syracuse regatta

The 49th edition of the Malta Syracuse Regatta, which anuallly attracts some of the best Maltese and Sicilian boats , was successfully held recently.

This was the second time that Air Malta sponsored this event, which saw the participation of 66 yachts that competed in the race between Siracusa and Malta.

Every year this classic race organised by the Royal Malta Yacht Club and Lega Navale Italiana Sezzione Siracusa alternates start lines, and this year it terminated at the Marsamxett Harbour.

'Wolverine' was the overall winner in the ORC category as well as 1st in IRC Class B and winner of the Easy Perfection Trophy, while Maltese yacht ‘Ton Ton’ won the IRC category A, closely followed by the Italian boat ‘Nautilus 227’. Air Malta’s 'Maltese Falcon II' yacht came in third.

The prize-giving ceremony was organised at the Grand Harbour Marina under Fort St Angelo. The prizes were awarded by Dr Brock Friesen, Air Malta Chief Officer Commercial and Georges Bonello DuPuis, Commodore of the Royal Malta Yacht Club.

To learn more about Sicily visit Sicily Tourist Guide

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The taste of Sicily is only a click away - Get the best Sicilian gourmet food delivered directly to your doorstep from www.Sicilian-Marketplace.com - The TOP 100 most sold Sicilian food products online. Our Sicily marketplace is powered by the worlds biggest online shopping site - best customer satisfaction guaranteed!

Interested in the best Italian sparkling wine? - taste like Champagne, but for a fraction of the price! Pinot Prosecco

Why not try some world class fishing and see Sicily from the sea, book a spectacular Sicilian fishing trip with SicilyFishing.com

“To have seen Italy without Sicily - is not to have seen Italy at all,
as Sicily is the key to everything” - Goethe

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Bridwatching in Sicily

Around 2.0 billion birds migrate annually between Africa, Europe and Asia (Cherrington, 2000). These birds use three major routes to make this passage. The Western path crosses the Mediterranean over Morocco into Spain and is used by some 300 million birds. The Central path over Tunisia into Sicily and is used by some 200 million birds. The Eastern path over Sinai Peninsula, used by what some ornithologists estimate to be1500 million birds.

One of the stops for the birds when passing over Sicily is the very special nature phenomena "The Unique Red Water Lake" close to the Ancient city of Enna on a mountain top in the middle of Sicily.

Lake Pergusa is the only true natural lake in central Sicily. Because of its geographical position, it is a humid oasis in a landscape that for long months is dominated by drought, and vital place for many species of birds.

Its in fact a perfect spot for birdwatchers in Sicily, but there are also mammals like the hedgehog and the weasel, reptiles like the fine marsh turtles and the strange congylus.

Lake Pergusa is known worldwide for a truly unique phenomenon: its blood red water which is created by the microscopical organisms which inhabit the lake, and in order to defend itself against the rays of the summer sun, takes on a red pigment and settles in very big colonies under aquatic plants. This pigment is then transferred to the water and to the bacteria that live in it, until the lake is transformed into "red water".

To learn more about Sicily visit Sicily Tourist Guide

To get updates about the Best of Sicily follow us at www.twitter.com/SicilyToday

The taste of Sicily is only a click away - Get the best Sicilian gourmet food delivered directly to your doorstep from www.Sicilian-Marketplace.com - The TOP 100 most sold Sicilian food products online. Our Sicily marketplace is powered by the worlds biggest online shopping site - best customer satisfaction guaranteed!

Interested in the best Italian sparkling wine? - taste like Champagne, but for a fraction of the price! Pinot Prosecco

Why not try some world class fishing and see Sicily from the sea, book a spectacular Sicilian fishing trip with SicilyFishing.com

“To have seen Italy without Sicily - is not to have seen Italy at all,
as Sicily is the key to everything” - Goethe

Sicily, The World's Next Great Retirement Destination(TM) of LivingInSicily.com -a forum for those who love Sicily and those who seek information about living in Sicily or moving to Sicily.